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Complete 8 page APA formatted essay: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.

The disorder can also be developed if an individual witnesses someone else in a life-threatening situation. The disorder takes place after the event has been experienced, though psychologists and therapists wait for a short period of time to see if the period of adjusting and coping does not subside. If symptoms continue, doctors go about the processes of diagnosing the individual with post-traumatic stress disorder. Post-traumatic stress disorder is one of the more complicated anxiety disorders to diagnose. This is primarily due to the fact that the disorder shares symptoms with other anxiety or stress disorders, but also because it can take up to three months for the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder to make themselves known in an individual. There have been some reported cases in which symptoms did not appear for many years after a traumatic event, but the most common timeframe is between one and three months. The symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder are grouped into three categories, which are increased anxiety or emotional arousal, intrusive memories, and avoidance and numbing. Increased anxiety and emotional arousal involves the individual feeling emotionally unbalanced. Patients of post-traumatic stress disorder can feel angry or guilty, even without reason.